Part II: IPT Devices and Users

Chapter 4. Cisco IP Phones and Other User Devices

Thus far, you have focused on the Cisco Unified CallManager server as the management system of the Cisco IP telephony network. It is now time to focus on the devices that Cisco CallManager controls. An important task of implementing and supporting an IP telephony deployment is managing the end-user devices, or endpoints. You should be able to distinguish among the various Cisco IP telephony end-user devices that you might encounter during the course of deploying and administering a Cisco IP telephony network.

This chapter explains the various models of Cisco IP Phones and how they work within a Cisco IP telephony solution. You will learn the basic features of Cisco IP Phones, analog adapters, and conference stations; the IP Phone power-up and registration process; and the audio coders-decoders (codecs) that are supported by Cisco IP Phones.

Cisco IP Phones

To the user , the telephone is the most visible component of the voice communications network. Cisco IP Phones are next -generation, intelligent communication devices that deliver essential business communications. Fully programmable, the growing family of Cisco IP Phones provides the most frequently used business features.

The majority of Cisco IP Phones provide the following features:

• Display-based user interface

• Straightforward user customization

• Inline Power over Ethernet (PoE)

• Support for the G.711 and G.729 audio codecs

Each Cisco IP Phone provides toll-quality audio. Because it is an IP-based phone, you can install it in any location on a corporate local or wide-area IP network. Some corporations have even made the Cisco CallManager publicly available on the Internet (with appropriate firewall platforms in place), allowing Cisco IP Phones to register from any location that has an Internet connection.

Entry-Level Cisco IP Phones

Cisco has produced a number of low-cost, entry-level IP Phones for a variety of business functions. Depending on user requirements, these IP Phones may function well for employees or for use only in public areas, such as lobbies or break rooms. Figure 4-1 shows the four entry-level Cisco IP Phones available at the time of this writing.

Entry-level Cisco phones provide the following common features:

• Display-based user interface (except Cisco IP Phone 7902G)

• G.711 and G.729 codec

• Single line (directory number [DN])

• Cisco inline power, powered patch panel, or local power option support via a power cube (the same power supply as the Cisco IP Phone 7910, 7940, or 7960)

• Visual message waiting indicator (MWI)

• One-way speakerphone (no built-in microphone) and no headset port

The following list briefly describes the major features of each entry-level Cisco IP Phone:

• Cisco IP Phone 7902G The Cisco IP Phone 7902G is a single-line, entry-level, no-display business phone with fixed feature keys that provide one-touch access to the redial, transfer, conference, and voice-mail access features. The following briefly describes the major features of the Cisco IP Phone 7902G:

  - Fixed features: redial, transfer, conference, messages

  - Hard Hold key

  - Single 10-Mbps RJ-45 connection (no internal Ethernet switch)

  Note

  Even though it might appear from the figure that the Cisco IP Phone 7902G has an LCD display, Cisco has equipped this low-end IP Phone with a piece of paper for a user to label key buttons and phone numbers .

  
  

• Cisco IP Phone 7905G and Cisco IP Phone 7912G The Cisco IP Phone 7905G provides single-line access and four interactive softkeys that guide a user through call features and functions via the pixel-based liquid crystal display (LCD). Use this IP Phone for employees who do not need a full-featured phone or for a common area such as a hallway, manufacturing floor, break room, reception space, or office cubicle . The Cisco IP Phone 7912G includes an integrated Ethernet switch that provides LAN connectivity to a collocated PC (allowing only a single cable drop to each location). The following briefly describes the major features of the Cisco IP Phone 7905G and Cisco 7912G:

  - Pixel-based display (approximately five lines plus softkeys (on-screen feature buttons) and date, time, and menu title

  - Hard Hold key

  - Access to all standard IP Phone features through four physical buttons able to access multiple on-screen softkeys

  - Support for limited Extensible Markup Language (XML) script processing

  - Support for Cisco Skinny Client Control Protocol (SCCP), H.323 version 2 (Cisco 7905G only), and Session Initiation Protocol (SIP; compliant with RFC 2543)

• Cisco IP Phone 7911G The Cisco IP Phone 7911G provides identical features as the Cisco 7912G with the following differences:

  - Support for IEEE 802.3af and Cisco proprietary inline power standards

  - Enhanced memory and XML application support similar to the Cisco IP Phone 7970

  - Support for enhanced security features

• Cisco IP Phone 7910G+SW The Cisco IP Phone 7910G+SW is for common-use areas that require only basic features, such as dialing out, accessing 911, and intercom calls. Locations that might benefit from these limited features include lobbies, break rooms, and hallways. The Cisco IP Phone 7910G+SW includes a two-port switch for use in applications where you require basic IP Phone functionality and a collocated PC. The following briefly describes the major features of the Cisco 7910G+SW:

  - Ability to handle low-to-medium telephone usage

  - Single line with call waiting

  - Display area of 2 x 24 inches (5.08 x 60.96 cm)

  - Cisco 10BASE-T/100BASE-T, two-port FastEthernet switch

  - Basic features: line, hold, transfer, settings, messages, conference, forward, speed dial, redial

  - Adjustable foot stand (flat to 60 degrees)

  - Basic and optional wall mounting

Note

Cisco has positioned the Cisco IP Phone 7912G to replace the Cisco IP Phone 7910G+SW. The Cisco 7910+SW should reach End-of-Life (EOL) in January 2006.

Midrange and Upper-End Cisco IP Phones

Cisco designed the IP Phones 7940G, 7941G and 7941G-GE, 7960, 7961G and 7961G-GE, 7970G and 7971G-GE, and 7985G to meet the demand for a corporate-level, full-featured IP Phone for medium-to-high telephone use. Figure 4-2 shows the midrange and upper-end Cisco IP Phones available at the time of this writing.

A description of features that are common to all midrange and upper-end IP Phones follows :

• Multiline capability

• Large pixel-based displays, which allow for the inclusion of XML and future features

• Integrated two-port FastEthernet or Gigabit Ethernet switch

• Built-in headset connection and quality full-duplex speakerphone (does not come with a headset)

• Information key for "online" help with features

• A minimum of 24 user-adjustable ring tones

• Adjustable foot stand (flat to 60 degrees) for desktop use or appropriate kit included for wall mounting

• SCCP and SIP support

• XML service support

• An EIA/TIA-232 port for options, such as line expansion and security access

Note

The 79XXG-GE IP Phone models offer features identical to the 79XXG models with the exception of the integrated two-port switch. The 79XXG-GE models have integrated, two-port 10/100/1000 switchports, whereas the 79XXG models have integrated, two-port 10/100 switchports.

Additional details of these phone models follow:

• Cisco IP Phone 7941G and 7941G-GE The Cisco IP Phone 7941G and 7941G-GE is for medium traffic and has these features:

  - Ideal for transaction workers who use cubicle phones

  - Two lines and programmable feature buttons, and four interactive softkeys

  - PoE compatible (Cisco prestandard PoE and IEEE 802.3af industry standard)

  - Increased memory for advanced applications

  - Higher resolution display

  - Backlit screen and line keys

• Cisco IP Phone 7961G and 7961G-GE The Cisco IP Phone 7961G and 7961G-GE is for high or busy telephone traffic and has these features:

  - Ideal for professionals or managers

  - Six lines and programmable feature buttons, and four interactive softkeys

  - PoE compatible (Cisco prestandard PoE and IEEE 802.3af industry standard)

  - Increased memory for advanced applications

  - Higher resolution display

  - Backlit screen and line keys

• Cisco IP Phone 7970G The Cisco IP Phone 7970G is one of Cisco's current high-end devices featuring a high resolution, full- color display that can make a passerby look twice. It has the following features:

  - Ideal for executives, decision makers , and high-visibility areas of your organization

  - Eight lines and programmable feature buttons, and five interactive softkeys

  - Larger, color display with touch-screen capabilities

  - 3.5-mm stereo jack sockets for connection to PC-style speakers or headphones, and microphone

  - PoE compatible (Cisco prestandard PoE and IEEE 802.3af industry standard)

  - Advanced XML development platform for more dynamic applications

• Cisco IP Phone 7971G-GE The Cisco IP Phone 7971G looks identical to the 7970G with the following differences:

  - Delivers Gigabit Ethernet bandwidth to the desktop with an integrated 10/100/1000 Mbps switch

  - "Feature identical" to the Cisco IP Phone 7970G

  - PoE compatible (IEEE 802.3af PoE only; does not support Cisco prestandard PoE)

• Cisco IP Phone 7980G The Cisco 7980G harnesses next-generation video technology offering the following features:

  - Ideal for executives, decision makers, and high-visibility areas of your organization (such as conference rooms)

  - Provides a desktop video phone making instant, face-to-face communication possible using the H.264 video codec

  - Offers an integrated, two-port 10/100 Ethernet switch

  - Enables digital clarity video

  - PoE compatible (IEEE 802.3af PoE only; does not support Cisco prestandard PoE)

Tip

Cisco has recently upgraded the 7940G and 7960G IP Phones to the 7941G and 7961G. The primary features Cisco added are the support for the IEEE 802.3af PoE standard, higher resolution and backlit display, multiple color line buttons (to support different line states), and advanced XML application support. All other features remain the same.

Additional Cisco IP Telephony Endpoints

Cisco provides a complete portfolio of IP endpoints to meet business needs for conferencing, wireless voice communications, PC-based voice calls, and connecting analog devices to the VoIP network. Figure 4-3 shows the additional IP telephony endpoints available at the time of this writing.

These products are as follows:

• Cisco VT Advantage Cisco VT Advantage is a video telephony solution consisting of the Cisco VT Advantage software application and Cisco VT Camera, a video telephony Universal Serial Bus (USB) camera. With the Cisco VT Camera attached to a PC that is connected to the switch port of a Cisco IP Phone, users can place and receive video calls on their enterprise IP telephony network. Users make calls from their Cisco IP Phones using familiar phone interfaces, but calls are enhanced with video on a PC, without requiring any extra button pushing or mouse clicking. When registered to Cisco CallManager, the Cisco VT Advantageenabled IP Phone has the features and functionality of a full-featured IP videophone. System administrators can provision a Cisco IP Phone with Cisco VT Advantage as they would any other Cisco IP Phone, which can greatly simplify deployment and management.

• Cisco IP Conference Station 7936 The Cisco IP Conference Station 7936 is a full-featured, IP-based, full-duplex, hands-free conference phone for use on desktops, in offices, and in small-to-medium conference rooms. The Cisco IP Conference Station 7936 offers external microphone ports, optional external microphone kit, audio- tuned speaker grill, and a backlit LCD display. The optional microphone kit includes two microphones with 6-foot (1.8288-m) cords so that you can place the microphones across a 12-foot (3.6576-m) area, effectively expanding to a suggested conference room size of 20 x 30 feet (6.096 x 9.144 m). The backlit LCD display improves visibility in low-light conditions. The display font size is also adjustable for improved distant viewing. The Conference Station 7936 does not support inline power and requires an external power supply at this time.

• Cisco IP Communicator The Cisco IP Communicator is a Microsoft Windows softwarebased application that delivers enhanced telephony support through personal computers. This application endows computers with the functionality of Cisco IP Phones and provides high-quality voice calls on the road, in the office, or from wherever users might have access to the corporate network. Cisco IP Communicator has an intuitive design, is easy to use, and delivers convenient access to a host of features, including eight lines and five softkeys. Cisco IP Communicator offers handset, headset, and high-quality speakerphone modes. The application appears as an on-screen Cisco 7970 IP Phone. Cisco plans to add video support to the IP Communicator by the time this publication reaches press.

• Cisco Analog Telephone Adaptor (ATA) 186 and 188 The Cisco ATA 186 and Cisco ATA 188 interface analog devices with your IP-based telephony network. These adapters are useful for customers who have existing analog devices, such as fax machines or telephones, that they do not want to replace after they have migrated to VoIP. The Cisco ATA 186 provides two voice ports, each with its own independent telephone number, and a single 10BASE-T Ethernet port for network connectivity. The Cisco ATA 188 provides two voice ports and two 10/100-Mbps Ethernet connections, which allows for network connectivity and the ability to collocate a network device with the analog voice equipment.

• Cisco IP Phone 7914 Expansion Module The Cisco IP Phone 7914 Expansion Module extends the capabilities of the Cisco IP Phone 7960G, 7961G, 7970G, and 7971G-GE with additional buttons and an LCD display. The Cisco IP Phone 7914 helps administrative assistants and others who must monitor, manage, and cover the various status of a number of calls beyond the line capability of the standard Cisco IP Phone models. This expansion module enables you to add 14 buttons to the existing buttons of the Cisco IP Phone 7960G, 7961G, 7970G, and 7971G-GE, increasing the total number of line and speed dial buttons available. You can use up to two Cisco 7914 Expansion Modules on each of the Cisco IP Phones listed previously.

  Tip

  The 7914 Expansion Module cannot receive inline power and requires a local power supply. A single power supply can power both 7914 expansion modules attached to an IP Phone.

  
  

• Cisco Wireless IP Phone 7920 The Cisco Wireless IP Phone 7920 is an easy-to-use IEEE 802.11b wireless IP Phone that provides comprehensive voice communications in conjunction with Cisco CallManager and the Cisco Aironet 1200, 1100, 350, and 340 Series of Wi-Fi (IEEE 802.11b) access points and their related security standards (such as TKIP/MIC, WPA, LEAP, and so on). The Cisco Wireless IP Phone 7920 is designed for ease of use, with a pixel-based display to access calling features and two softkeys, support for up to six directory numbers, a four-way rocker switch, a Hold key, a Mute key, and a Menu key that allows quick access to information such as directories, call history, and phone settings. The phone also offers XML support on models with a recent firmware upgrade.

Table 4-1 provides a feature-by-feature comparison of the various Cisco IP Phone models. This table comes from "Cisco IP Telephony Solution Reference Network Design (SRND) for Cisco CallManager 4.0 and 4.1" (http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/sw/voicesw/ps556/products_implementation_design_guide_book09186a00805fdb7b.html) and is printed with permission from Cisco Systems.

Table 4-1. IP Phone Features

^[1] One 10 Base-T

^[2] Two 10/100 Base-T

^[3] One 10/100 Base-T

^[4] Last Number Redial

^[5] Supports only unicast MoH

^[6] One-way listen mode

^[7] The only supported headset for the Cisco IP Phone 7920 is one with a 2.5 mm jack, available at http://www.cisco.getheadsets.com.

^[8] Signaling and Media Encryption are available with Static WEP and LEAP security configurations.